The next day, June 2, Commissioner Peter Weldon circulated an email to Winter Park residents with a link to his own blog, Winter Park Perspective. Weldon’s instruction at the top of the email was: “Fellow Winter Park Residents, Please share with friends and neighbors.” Having received this email and concluding I was not alone in receiving it, I heeded Weldon’s instruction and posted his email in the comments section below my story.

NEW POST: A Few Trees, Lots of Concrete, Little Expanded Park, Lots of Your Money (click to read on-line)
The editor of Winter Park Voice, Anne Mooney, has stopped her pretense of providing “news” and has gone public with her true purpose, that being to use her blog and Facebook page to promote her policy prescriptions for Winter Park. Notably, these prescriptions are underpinned by conspiracy theories and based not on fact, but on suspicion that those who actually spend their time serving the city must have some unjust ulterior motive, because they don’t share her views.

I am going “full monty” on this because the people of Winter Park deserve to understand the manipulation. I expect, and believe you deserve, city policy driven by full and thoughtful debate, not driven by political manipulation from people for whom a political agenda supersedes respect for the facts and respect for those who serve our community.

Who Puts Up Comments on Voice Site?

Only two people can post anything on the WP Voice website – the editor and the web developer. Comments input on the site are held for moderation and must be approved, and only then are they posted. Comments containing personal attacks and inappropriate language are not posted. Comments may be edited to remove inappropriate language. No reader has direct access to the site.

Originally, I posted Commissioner Weldon’s email under the title “Pete Weldon.” He did not post it; I did.

“John Dough” Weighs In

Very soon after, a person writing as “John Dough” responded to Weldon’s comment. I moderated Dough’s comment and posted it. It appears beneath Weldon’s post, as it was written in response to Weldon’s comment, not to the article.

Those of you who have posted on the Voice website know that there is a way for you to post with a pseudonym and a way to hide your email address. “John Dough” posts frequently and takes advantage of these features. When his or her post arrives via email, the only information visible to the moderator is the IP Address of the computer. The right to post an anonymous comment has been the policy of the Voice since its inception, and it will remain Voice policy.

I ask that you immediately remove the comment using my name, along with the response.

I ask that you send me the identifying Internet information on the comment under my name. This would include email address and IP address along with other information tracked by your blog software.

I ask, as I have before, that you limit comments to the Winter Park Voice Facebook page where the author needs to have a verified identity. I hope you will someday contribute to minimizing politically motivated manipulation of the facts, rather than facilitating such behavior.

I am looking into legal action and encourage you to remove the comment and the response immediately.

I also ask that after removing the comment and response, that you post a comment noting what happened and tell your readers what changes you will make in your site policies to avoid abetting such fraud. I point out that your failure to have and to enforce policies intended to avoid such fraudulent behavior is a tacit endorsement of such behavior.

The title now reads: Emailed to residents by Peter Weldon and posted here by WP Voice staff
June 2, 2017 at 4:20 pm

This is dishonest.

What would be honest is for you to:

Remove the comment along with the response by “John Dough.”
Write a story that you email to your list and post on the WPV Facebook page with a detailed history of how you allowed an anonymous source to fraudulently post a comment under my name and then allowed comments on the fraudulent comment.
Clarify that your [sic] chose to pretend “WP Voice staff” posted the comment when in fact you did not.
The story would include a link to my actual blog post referenced but not linked in the fraudulent post: http://www.winterparkperspective.org/2017/06/02/no_trees_lots_of_concrete_no_park_lots_of_money/.

I certainly hope you come to better understand your responsibility as a paid commentator.

Regards, Pete Weldon

Enter: The First Amendment Foundation

Although I never personally responded to any of Weldon’s emails, I did seek assistance from the First Amendment Foundation.

On June 20, First Amendment Foundation President, Barbara Petersen wrote to Mr. Weldon advising that, as an elected official and public figure, his correspondence constitutes public record. Since Mr. Weldon sent the emails to the Voice editor, they were obtained lawfully and the Voice has the right to publish them. As editor of the Winter Park Voice, I am a journalist protected by the First Amendment.
[To read the full text of the First Amendment Foundation letter to Mr. Weldon, click here.]

I am a supporter of the sunshine law and take it very seriously. I feel badly that you took your time to write a two page letter informing me of what I already know and act upon.
I never questioned anyone’s right to re-publish anything.

It is Ms. Mooney’s sanctimonious request for you to question my requests to her that should receive your attention. Ms. Mooney has a long track record of pretending to provide “news” to Winter Park residents when the facts are clear that she is purely a political actor, offering commentary and writing on subjects only supportive of her positions, and those of residents who confidentially fund her. While legal, there is nothing transparent in the “Sunshine” sense about anything Ms. Mooney writes or distributes. She blatantly coordinates behind the scenes with commissioners and others to push out emails and blog posts timed and designed to promote a political agenda (exactly the back room dealing the Sunshine Law is intended to prevent). Her request to you to admonish and question me about transparency and the sunshine law is the laughable height of hypocrisy.

You are being used.

Here are the facts:

On or about June 2nd someone posted a copy of an email I wrote as a comment on Ms. Mooney’s blog. There is no problem in duplicating what I wrote, provided the person posting the comment identify themselves and note that they are copying my email. The problem is that this comment was shown as being placed on the blog by me under my name, when in fact I did no such thing. Further, the comment was something I would never have offered on Ms. Mooney’s blog. Someone fraudulently used my name as the person posting the comment. The content of the comment is not in question. Fraud includes a person or thing intending to deceive others. Someone, perhaps Ms. Mooney but she has not come forward, posted the comment pretending to be me, thereby intending to deceive others that I in fact posted the comment when I did not.

Shortly after, someone commented on the comment falsely ascribed to me, indicating that the commenter either believed I had posted the comment or was the person posting the comment using my name, and did so to create a context to provide their comment.

Sometime recently, at least 10 days after I brought this to Ms. Mooney’s attention, without responding to me, Ms. Mooney changed the author text of the comment to read, “Emailed to residents by Peter Weldon and posted here by WP Voice staff June 2, 2017 at 4:20 pm.” Which is false. Ms. Mooney conveniently removed my name as the author of the post many days after the actual posting, not on June 2nd. All those reading the post prior to Ms. Mooney’s edit were misled and Ms. Mooney has done nothing to correct the record. She has either committed or abetted fraud, or both.

My apologies on behalf of Ms. Mooney for wasting your time.

Regards, Pete Weldon

Man Struck by Amtrak Train

Near 17-92 Overpass

Police reported that a man walking on the train tracks just south of the 17-92 overpass was struck by an Amtrak train last night about 8:00 pm. Lieutenant Pam Marcum of the Winter Park Police Department said that an Amtrak employee called an ambulance, which transported the man to the hospital, where he later died.

Marcum described the man as an Hispanic male. His age and identity are being withheld pending further investigation and notification of next of kin. Marcum was unable to say at this time whether the death was accidental or the victim intentionally put himself in the path of the oncoming train.

Amtrak did not respond to requests for comment.

Every Day Is Training Day

At Winter Park Fire-Rescue

Outside, the morning is cool and sunny but inside, the old building at Progress Point is eerily dark, quiet. Suddenly, four fire fighters, each wearing 50 to 60 pounds of gear and carrying another 25 pounds of tools, burst into the room like figures in an action movie. They wear hoods and cannot see. They make plenty of noise. They conduct a quick “right hand search,” with two men proceeding into the room keeping their right hands on the wall. A third officer carries a Thermal Imaging Camera that is sensitive enough to detect the warmth from a fire fighter’s hand print on the wall. This is how they see.

Tangle Tunnel

The officer with the camera directs the men as they crawl under and over furniture, searching for fire and for victims. One of the obstacles they encounter is a “tangle tunnel.” A long plywood tunnel crisscrossed with wires and cords, the tangle tunnel replicates what a fire fighter would have to deal with if a ceiling has burned, leaving wires and fixtures dangling. The fully loaded fire fighter must crawl, blindfolded, through the 10-foot long space with his body at an angle to ensure the air bottle he carries on his back does not get hung up in the wires.

“We are frequently called at night,” explains Jimm Walsh, Division Chief of the Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department, “and if there is smoke — even in daylight — we can see nothing. So this is how we conduct our drills.”

Progress Point Being Put to Good Use . . .

Winter Park Fire – Rescue has set up their training facility in the old call center building at Progress Point on Orange Avenue. It is used not just by Winter Park, but also by other area fire companies, including Orlando.

. . .As Is Some Previously Used Furniture

Using furniture and fixtures gleaned from defunct businesses and a few alleys, Fire Rescue training folks have created a mockup daycare center, a living room, an office, a child’s bedroom with bunk bed, and a playroom with toys. The tangle tunnels are placed at random. Amongst the jumble of furniture are mannequins – sand-filled “victims,” some child-size and some weighing as much as 220 pounds – dead weight that must be dragged to safety amidst chaos.

Firefighters at the Ready 24/7

Winter Park has 69 active firefighters (not including administrative personnel) — three women and 66 men. Of the 69, 57 are trained paramedics. Walsh estimates that 70 percent of their calls are medical emergencies. The remaining 30 percent he describes as “other” – fires, automobile accidents, hazmat and other types of emergencies. The department works a three-shift system, with firefighters on duty for 24 hours and off 48 hours. Each shift is covered by 23 firefighters.

Sole Provider of Emergency Medical Service

Winter Park Fire Rescue is the sole provider of emergency medical services within the city limits. Units respond from three fire stations, strategically located to cover the nine-square-mile area of Winter Park. The main station is on Canton Avenue, and the other two are located on Lakemont Avenue and Howell Branch Road. The department has two fully equipped ambulances, and while fire trucks cannot transport a patient to the hospital, each is equipped to provide advanced life support until an ambulance arrives.

Hours of Practice Build ‘Muscle Memory’

Each firefighter must complete a minimum of 20 hours of training a month. Most complete more than that. The array of knowledge required of a firefighter is, dare we say, awe-inspiring. In addition to knowing how to operate their equipment, drive the vehicles, practice the latest firefighting techniques and the latest medical emergency procedures, there is an ever-changing list of new information and equipment with which they must familiarize themselves.

“We are trying to build muscle memory,” said Jimm Walsh, “so that in an emergency situation, these people don’t have to think. They just act. It saves seconds, and seconds can save lives.”

They Know WP Like the Backs of Their Hands

Every firefighter must know the location of every single street in Winter Park. Even though the units have Siri to tell them where to go, technology can fail, so the firefighters must be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the area without technical assistance.

Firefighters study detailed engineering drawings of every commercial and multi-residential building in the city – and there are thousands of them. They learn the interior layouts, how to disable the alarm systems, where to turn off the electricity, where to turn on the water and the location of all fire hydrants in the vicinity of each building.

WPFD Earned Top Rating

All this effort has paid off. In 2013, after an on-site examination from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), the WPFD received a Class 1 rating – the highest possible. Criteria for the rating are community water supply, emergency communications (911) and the fire department itself.

Within the Fire Department, the areas evaluated include daily staffing, fire apparatus, training, equipment and pre-fire planning. WPFD is one of only three departments in the U.S. to receive Class 1 accreditation from the ISO. The classification is used by insurers to rate the risk of loss, which affects premiums paid by property owners.

Winter Park is a wonderful place to live. Everyone says so. So much goes on behind the scenes to make it that way. Thanks to these folks for looking out for us – 24/7.

Winter Park’s Most Influential

Randy Noles Honored at Mead Botanical Garden

On January 24, dozens of Winter Park “influentials” gathered to celebrate the work of Randy Noles, long-time editor and publisher of Winter Park Magazine. The crowd assembled to honor Noles’s contributions as community builder and, in particular, his support of Mead Botanical Garden, Inc., which hosted the reception.

The Gazebros provided the music. L to R: Jack Byrd, Trevor Hall, Craig Taylor, Sheila Verde and Chip Weston. The Gazebros play at the Gazebo in Albert Park in College Park, at 6:30 on Tuesday evenings, weather permitting.

To mark the occasion, this character drawing by Rafael Diez was presented to Noles. Mead Botanical Garden Executive Director Cynthia Hasenau learned that Noles, himself, had an abbreviated career as a character artist. “That,” she said, “led me to commission this rendition of Randy enjoying a stroll in Mead Garden.”

Roger Trindade Death Ruled Homicide

Three Juveniles Arrested

WPPD announced tonight that the final cause of the death of Roger Trindade was “homicide as a result of blunt force trauma.” With this information, the police obtained arrest warrants for three juveniles, all of whom are now in police custody.

The three young men charged in Roger Trindade’s death are Jesse K. Sutherland, age 15; Simeon Hall, age 15; and Jagger Gouda, age 14. None of the three is currently enrolled at Winter Park High School. The arrest affidavits have been sealed by a judge and no further information has been released by the WPPD.

Simeon Hall and Jagger Gouda were arrested in Orange County, FL. Jesse Sutherland was arrested in Virginia. Sutherland and Hall are both charged with manslaughter. Jagger Gouda is charged with tampering with a witness.

According to the statement issued this evening, “The Winter Park Police Department and Joint Homicide Investigation Team are working closely with the State Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s office during this investigation.”

Young Composers Challenge Comes to DPAC

You Should, Too

Music Lovers, mark your calendars. On Sunday, November 13. Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center will host the National Young Composers Challenge (YCC) from 12:30 to 5:00 pm, with a reception to follow.

Admission to the Composium is Free

Doors will be kept open during the event so that you can come to be inspired by your favorite young composer or stay for the entire event. After the performance, everyone is invited to share refreshments and mingle with musicians, judges, the composers and their families.

Most Prestigious U.S. Competition

The brainchild of Winter Park philanthropist Steve Goldman, YCC has been around since 2003. Limited at first to submissions from young Central Florida composers, aged 13 to 18, YCC has grown into the most prestigious competition in the country for young composers of orchestral music. YCC now receives thousands of submissions from around the country from youngsters aged 13 to 18. The 13-year-olds will amaze you. By the time they’re 18, they’re old hands.

What’s a Composium?

The performance you will see on November 13 is like a concert, plus a master class, plus a competition. It’s informative, dramatic, and entirely entertaining. Hear the winning compositions by America’s top young composers discussed, rehearsed, and conducted by Maestro Christopher Wilkins and performed by the symphony orchestra in the Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.

The performance of each composition begins with an audio excerpt from the young composer’s computer-generated score. Next, the composition is rehearsed by the orchestra, giving the composer an opportunity to interact with the conductor, the orchestra musicians, and the judges. Each session ends with the final performance of the composition.

Come As You Are and Bring the Kids

Dress casually, bring the kids, and prepare to have your mind expanded. You are unlikely ever to listen to an orchestra performance in quite the same way again.

Large Hole Opens on Fairbanks

East-Bound Fairbanks Temporarily Closed

This was the scene about 4:15 pm on Fairbanks Avenue across the street from Linda’s Diner. A water main beneath the roadway burst, and the resulting hole swallowed a large chunk of Fairbanks Avenue. Winter Park Police Officer Greg Easterbrook, who was at the scene, said the east-bound lanes of Fairbanks between I-4 and Harold St. would be closed “for at least six to eight hours, perhaps more.”

Officer Easterbrook said he had received a call that the road was flooded. He said he responded, “and sure enough, a large hole had opened. Fortunately,” said Easterbrook, “this happened on a Sunday instead of during Monday rush hour.”

WP High Pays Tribute to Roger Trindade

Part of Homecoming Celebration

A tribute to Winter Park High School student Roger Trindade, who died October 18, will take place at the Central Park main stage tomorrow, October 26, at 6:00 p.m.

The tribute is part of Winter Park High School’s Homecoming celebration, which will include a parade down Park Avenue from Webster to Lyman from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Side streets to Park Avenue will be closed during that hour for the passing of the parade.

“Since day one, we have treated Roger’s death as a criminal investigation. As such, we have dedicated the significant amount of resources necessary to present a prosecutable case. As in all cases of criminal investigation, especially those involving juveniles, our investigation must proceed with care and discretion – and this may take some time.

“We are maintaining contact with Roger’s family and will continue to make the privacy and interests of the family a priority. We are aware and understand the safety concerns of our citizens to include parents and students, and we are committed to ensuring Park Avenue and all of our schools remain safe places.”

WPPD Updates Roger Trindade Case

Suspects Identified – Investigation Continues

At 11:23 this morning, the City of Winter Park Police Department (WPPD) provided the following update regarding their investigation into the death of 15-year-old Winter Park High School student Roger Trindade.

What Happened

On October 15, 2016, at 9:48 pm, Winter Park Police Officers were dispatched to Central Park at the corner of Park Avenue and Morse Blvd. Police and Fire/Rescue personnel arrived on scene within two minutes. They arrived to find Roger Trindade unconscious. The suspects had already fled the scene. Roger Trindade bore no physical signs of injury and no physical evidence that would suggest he had been beaten.

Investigation Still Active

“This remains an active investigation,” stated Lieutenant Pam Marcum. “The Winter Park Police Department will continue to work directly with the Trindade family through the developments of this investigation.”

WPPD investigators have identified all of the individuals involved and are continuing their criminal investigation into what happened. Because those associated with this incident are juveniles, their identities cannot be released.

Park Ave. Patrols Upped

WPPD has increased patrols in and around Central Park.

Cause of Death Still Unknown

Exactly what caused the death of Roger Trindade is still not known. “Until we know what caused his death,” said Marcum, “we cannot make an accurate assessment of what criminal charges are appropriate.” The Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner is continuing to investigate the cause of death, and their investigation will take several weeks.

State, County Agencies Involved

Other agencies, including the Joint Homicide Investigation Team, the Medical Examiner and the State Attorney’s Office are assisting WPPD in their investigation. In criminal cases where juveniles are arrested, there is a very short window between the arrest and the prosecution. If a law enforcement agency makes a premature arrest, the prosecutor will not have the benefit of the Medical Examiner’s results or any potential forensic examinations at trial.

If You Have Information . . .

Lieutenant Marcum emphasized that the WPPD appreciates everyone who has provided a tip or information about this case. Even though police have identified all parties involved, she said, if you have any information regarding this case, you should contact WPPD at 407-644-1313 or Crime Line at 407-423-TIPS.

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